Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

AJdeWit · 2016-08-30 11:29:30

Hi, I've got Arch linux on my laptop where I used to have windows 8 on. I used to play dota2 with medium-high graphics on windows. I now play dota2 with low (everything minimal) and it still produces 20fps. I have a Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E531 (N4I29MH) which has the following specs:

Intel Core i5-3230M Ivy Bridge
5400rpm HDD
GeForce GT740M /

It came with 4GB RAM by default, but I upgraded it to 8GB RAM.

Because the processor is labeled as Ivy Bridge, it also has a HD Graphics 4000.

I've installed bumblebee and yet, I still get a low framerate. What do? Is it normal that Arch gets fewer framerates than windows when running the same game?

I am new to Arch since last december.

Thanks a lot in advance!

Last edited by AJdeWit (2016-09-05 08:00:07)

Awebb · 2016-08-30 11:34:38

1. Link to the game. It might be widespread, but potential help would need to search for it.
2. You have installed bumblebee, but which drivers did you install and how do you operate bumblebee, e.g. what do you enter to start the game?

AJdeWit · 2016-08-30 11:43:56

Thank you for the quick response!

1. I've applied the "Google before asking dumb questions"-rule and found nothing.

2. First I run bumblebeed and then I run dota2 with optirun, nothing changes. Did the same with mount&blade. Mount&blade is not a heavy game to run, should not bring any complications at all yet (if you're familiar with the game) lags when simply entering a village.

I've installed the propietary drivers of nvidia as described on the Arch Wiki page of nvidia. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NVIDIA. I don't want to switch to Windows because it's inefficient.

I'd hoped that someone could maybe share their experience with playing games on Arch. What do you normally do?

Last edited by AJdeWit (2016-08-30 12:06:29)

Awebb · 2016-08-30 12:24:18

As of late, I have problems getting things to run with optirun. Steam used to have problems with optirun in general, so I'd try primusrun with games. See the local Steam wiki article, there is an explanation on how to add primusrun to the command line.

Generally, I install a game and run it over bumblebee (with primusrun, because optirun has been acting up for me). For steam games, add primusrun to the game's command line. You might have to play with the different settings of primusrun. Another possible cause of problems is the lack of libraries, Steam using outdated libraries or a 32/64 bit "conflict". You should go through the Steam wiki article and return with questions, if nothing in there fixes your problem.

AJdeWit · 2016-08-30 12:47:11

Thank you for your reply!

I will try it out this evening and report later.

AJdeWit · 2016-08-30 18:28:39

Primusrun does seem to make it slightly better, but after a while it will repeatedly switch. One moment everything runs smooth, the other moment it all starts going down to ~15-20 fps

mazhar · 2016-08-30 18:35:13

i had a problem with games(which i never could solve), bumblebee was preventing good performance to save battery, try it with laptop pluged in

AJdeWit · 2016-08-31 05:42:32

Laptop is as good as always plugged in when I play.

When I start bumblebeed with
sudo bumblebeed

I get the following:

libkmod: kmod_config_parse: /etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf line 1: ignoring bad line starting with 'thinkpad_acpi'
modprobe: FATAL: Module bbswitch not found in directory /lib/modules/4.7.0-1-ARCH
[11207.553156] [ERROR]Module bbswitch could not be loaded (timeout?)
[11207.553180] [WARN]No switching method available. The dedicated card will always be on.
[11207.555145] [INFO]bumblebeed 3.2.1 started

Does something seem odd?

Last edited by AJdeWit (2016-08-31 12:55:26)

AJdeWit · 2016-09-03 12:11:15

Bump

WorMzy · 2016-09-03 12:14:31

Please read the community code of conduct, specifically the section regarding bumping.

Lone_Wolf · 2016-09-03 14:41:51

something may be wrong in your configuration.

the bbswitch module should be here usr/lib/modules/extramodules-4.7-ARCH/bbswitch.ko.gz .
verify it's present on your system.

You also seem to have an error in one of your modprobe config files, check /etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf .

Edited:
you may want to choose a less generic title

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2016-09-03 14:43:03)

AJdeWit · 2016-09-05 07:59:29

Hi, thank you for your answer.

The bbswitch is not present . There's only nvidia.ko.gz, nvidia-uvm.ko.gz and version.

/etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf:

thinkpad_ascpi fan_control=1

Lone_Wolf · 2016-09-09 11:56:21

/etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad_acpi.conf appears to have a typo : ascpi insteead of acpi .

bbswitch is optional and only used to power on/off the dedicated card, it shouldn't affect performance.
Your description of the problem does sound like it could be related to re-clocking / power management stuff though.

please install bbswitch, then try to get the problem behaviour again and post full dmesg .

Arch Linux

#1 2016-08-30 11:29:30

Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#2 2016-08-30 11:34:38

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#3 2016-08-30 11:43:56

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#4 2016-08-30 12:24:18

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#5 2016-08-30 12:47:11

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#6 2016-08-30 18:28:39

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#7 2016-08-30 18:35:13

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#8 2016-08-31 05:42:32

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#9 2016-09-03 12:11:15

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#10 2016-09-03 12:14:31

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#11 2016-09-03 14:41:51

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#12 2016-09-05 07:59:29

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

#13 2016-09-09 11:56:21

Re: Bad performance with bumblebeed & optirun/primusrun

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